Gateway E-1500, E-1800, E-2600, E-2100, E-4100 User Manual
...
USER GUIDE
Gateway Computer
www.gateway.com
Contents
Contents
Chapter 1: Getting Help . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
Thank you for purchasing our computer! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Using the Gateway Web site . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Using Support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Using Help and Support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Searching for a topic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Using Online help . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Finding your model and serial number . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Finding the Microsoft Certificate of Authenticity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Chapter 2: Getting Started . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
Front . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Back . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Working safely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Reducing eye strain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Setting up your computer desk and chair . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Setting up your computer and computer accessories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Sitting at your computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Avoiding discomfort and injury from repetitive strain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Protecting from power source problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Checking the voltage selection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Starting your computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Waking up your computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Turning off your computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Restarting your computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Using the keyboard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Standard keyboard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Using the mouse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Connecting the dial-up modem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Connecting to a cable or DSL modem or to an Ethernet network . . . . . . . . 18
Installing a printer, scanner, or other peripheral device . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Chapter 3: Using Windows XP. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Using the Windows desktop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Using the Start menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Adding icons to the desktop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Identifying window items . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Working with files and folders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Viewing drives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Creating folders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Copying and moving files and folders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Deleting files and folders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
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Searching for files and folders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28
Using the Windows Search utility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29
Browsing for files and folders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30
Working with documents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31
Creating a new document . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31
Saving a document . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32
Opening a document . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32
Printing a document . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33
Using Windows shortcuts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34
Chapter 4: Using the Internet. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35
Learning about the Internet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36
Setting up an Internet account . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37
Accessing your Internet account . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37
Using the World Wide Web . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37
Connecting to a Web site . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38
Downloading files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39
Using e-mail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39
Sending e-mail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40
Checking your e-mail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40
Chapter 5: Sending and Receiving Faxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41
Installing and configuring Microsoft Fax . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42
Installing Fax . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42
Configuring Fax . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43
Setting up your cover page template . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45
Sending a fax . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46
Sending a quick fax . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46
Faxing from programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .47
Faxing a scanned document . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .47
Automatically retry sending a fax . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .47
Canceling a fax . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48
Receiving and viewing a fax . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49
Chapter 6: Using Your Hardware. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51
Using the diskette drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52
Using the CD or DVD drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53
Identifying drive types . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53
Inserting a CD or DVD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54
Using the memory card reader . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54
Memory card types . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55
Using a memory card . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55
Configuring the audio jacks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56
Connecting a projector or monitor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56
Connecting a television . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57
Modifying television settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59
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Connecting a video camera . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Installing an uninterruptible power supply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
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Chapter 7: Using Your Software. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
Adjusting the volume . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
Playing music and movies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
Playing WAV audio files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
Playing audio and video files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
Playing CDs or DVDs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
Creating audio files and music libraries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
Creating music files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
Building a music library . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
Editing music file information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
Creating and editing videos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
Editing videos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
Transferring your video to your computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
Editing your video . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
Saving your video . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
Creating music CDs and video DVDs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
Creating a music CD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
Creating a video DVD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
Creating and copying data CDs and DVDs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
Creating a data CD or DVD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
Copying a CD or DVD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
Using advanced multimedia features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
Recording audio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
Chapter 8: Customizing Your Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
Adjusting the screen and desktop settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88
Adjusting the color depth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88
Adjusting the screen resolution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
Changing the colors on your Windows desktop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
Changing the desktop background . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
Selecting a screen saver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
Changing the mouse settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
Using an extended desktop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94
Adjusting power-saving settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95
Changing the power scheme . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95
Changing advanced settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96
Activating and using Hibernate mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96
Chapter 9: Networking Your Computer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
Introducing networking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
Using a router . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
Creating an Ethernet network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
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Installing Ethernet cards and drivers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
Making sure your broadband connection works . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
Naming your computers and workgroup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
Configuring the TCP/IP protocol . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
Setting up an Ethernet network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
Testing your network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
Sharing resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
Sharing drives and printers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
Using the network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
Viewing shared drives and folders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
Mapping a network drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110
Opening files across the network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110
Copying files across the network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110
Printing files across the network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
Adding a printer to your network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
Chapter 10: Protecting Your Computer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
Securing your computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114
Using the Kensington lock slot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114
Securing your data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114
Using startup and hard drive passwords . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114
Using Windows user accounts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114
Setting limits with user accounts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115
Protecting your computer from viruses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116
Using Windows XP Security Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118
Updating Windows XP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
Chapter 11: Recovering Your System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
Understanding system recovery options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122
Recovering your system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122
Recovering specific files and software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123
Recovering your system using Microsoft System Restore . . . . . . . . . . . 124
Recovering your system from the hard drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126
Chapter 12: Maintaining Your Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129
Caring for your computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130
Cleaning your computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130
Managing hard drive space . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132
Checking hard drive space . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132
Deleting unnecessary files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133
Checking the hard drive for errors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134
Defragmenting the hard drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135
Backing up files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136
Scheduling maintenance tasks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136
Moving from your old computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137
Using the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137
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Transferring files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138
Transferring Internet settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139
Installing your old printer or scanner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140
Installing your old programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141
Contents
Chapter 13: Adding and Replacing Components . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143
Preventing static electricity discharge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144
Opening the case . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144
Removing the side panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144
Removing the front bezel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146
Closing the case . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147
Replacing the front bezel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147
Replacing the side panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147
Installing memory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148
Replacing the system battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150
Adding or replacing a CD or DVD drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151
Replacing the memory card reader . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152
Adding or replacing a hard drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153
Replacing the rear fan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155
Replacing the power supply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156
Replacing the heat sink . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157
Replacing the front I/O panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158
Adding or replacing an expansion card . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159
Replacing the system board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 161
Chapter 14: Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165
Safety guidelines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166
First steps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166
Solving problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167
Add-in cards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167
Audio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .167
Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .167
CD drives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167
Diskette drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168
DVD drives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169
Ethernet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169
File management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170
Hard drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170
Internet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171
Keyboard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172
Memory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172
Memory card reader . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172
Modem (cable or DSL) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173
Modem (dial-up) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173
Monitor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175
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Contents www.gateway.com
Mouse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176
Networks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177
Passwords . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177
Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178
Printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178
Sound . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179
Telephone support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180
Before calling Gateway Customer Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180
Telephone numbers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180
Self-help . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181
Appendix A: Safety, Regulatory, and Legal Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183
Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189
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CHAPTER 1
Getting Help
• Thank you for purchasing our computer!
• Using the Gateway Web site
•Using Help and Support
• Using Online help
• Finding your model and serial number
• Finding the Microsoft Certificate of Authenticity
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CHAPTER 1: Getting Help www.gateway.com
Thank you for purchasing our computer!
You have made an excellent decision choosing Gateway. We are sure that you
will be pleased with the outstanding quality, reliability, and performance of your
new computer. Each and every Gateway computer uses the latest technology
and passes through the most stringent quality control tests to ensure that you
are provided with the best product possible.
Please read this manual carefully to familiarize yourself with our range of
services and support. We have highlighted some basic care and safety
information to help you keep your computer in good operating condition.
Gateway stands behind our value proposition to our customers — to provide
best-of-class service and support in addition to high-quality, brand-name
components at affordable prices. If you ever have a problem, our
knowledgeable, dedicated customer service department will provide you with
fast, considerate service.
We sincerely hope that you will receive the utmost satisfaction and enjoyment
from your new Gateway computer for years to come.
Thanks again, from all of us at Gateway.
Using the Gateway Web site
Gateway's online support is available 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, and
provides the most current drivers, product specifications, tutorials, and
personalized information about your computer. Visit the Gateway Web support
site at www.gateway.com/support
.
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Using Support
Using the Gateway Web site
The Support site is divided into seven major areas:
■ Support Home
■ Product Support
■ Downloads
■ Customer Service
■ Upgrade Center
■ Resources
■ Contact Us
Support Home
Click Support Home, then click Desktops. To view support documents for your
computer, type your serial number in the Serial Number box, then click Submit.
Click the arrow button to open the Select Your Computer Product box, then
click Desktop Computers to access product documentation, specifications, and
guides for all Gateway computers.
Product Support
Click Product Support to view a list of all the products that Gateway supports.
Downloads
Click Downloads to get the latest software updates for BIOS and driver
upgrades. By entering your serial number you get drivers specific to your
computer. Click Browse All Downloads to walk through a step-by-step wizard
to locate your drivers.
Customer Service
Click Customer Service to view information about your account and general
information about warranties and special offers.
Upgrade Center
Click Upgrade Center to view and purchase upgrades for your computer.
Resources
Click Resources to access utilities to help you manage your computer.
Contact Us
Click Contact Us to access links to customer care with a live technician,
including chat and e-mail. Click Call Us to get a list of Gateway telephone
numbers for both sales and support. For more information, see “Telephone
support” on page 180.
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Using Help and Support
Your computer includes Help and Support, an easily accessible collection of help
information, troubleshooters, and automated support. Use Help and Support
to answer questions about Windows and to help you quickly discover and use
the many features of your Gateway computer.
To start Help and Support:
■ Click Start, then click Help and Support. Help and Support opens.
Searching for a topic
4
Using Help and Support, you can find help information by clicking a link,
performing a search, or browsing the index.
To search for a topic in Help and Support, type a word or phrase (keyword) in
the Search box located at the top of any Help and Support screen, then click
the arrow button.
For each search, you receive the following search result types:
■ Suggested Topics—These topics are located in Help and Support and are
relevant to your search topic.
■ Full-text Search Matches—These topics are located in Help and Support
and contain the words you entered in the Search box.
■ Microsoft Knowledge Base—These topics are located on the Microsoft
Web site and contain the words you entered in the Search box. You must
be connected to the Internet to search for and access these topics.
To view a list of your search results, click the results header for the type of results
you want to view.
To view a topic, click the topic name in the Search Results list.
www.gateway.com
Using Online help
Many programs provide information online so you can research a topic or learn
how to perform a task while you are using the program. You can access most
online help information by selecting a topic from a Help menu or by clicking a
Help button.
Finding your model and serial number
Using Online help
The labels shown in this section are for
informational purposes only. Label
information varies by model, features
Important
ordered, and location.
The label on the side of your computer case includes your computer serial
number. Gateway Technical Support will need this information if you call for
assistance.
Finding the Microsoft Certificate of Authenticity
The Microsoft Certificate of Authenticity label found on the back or side of your
computer includes the product key code for your operating system.
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CHAPTER 1: Getting Help www.gateway.com
6
CHAPTER 2
Getting Started
•Front
•Back
•Working safely
•Starting your computer
• Turning off your computer
• Restarting your computer
•Using the keyboard
•Using the mouse
• Connecting the dial-up modem
• Connecting to a cable or DSL modem or to an Ethernet
network
• Installing a printer, scanner, or other peripheral device
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CHAPTER 2: Getting Started www.gateway.com
Front
Your computer includes the following components (your computer may differ
from the computer shown below).
DVD/CD drive
Empty 5.25’-inch
drive bay
Diskette drive
(optional)
Power button/power
indicator
Hard drive activity
indicator
Microphone jack
USB ports
Component Icon Description
DVD/CD drive Use this drive to listen to audio CDs, install games and programs, watch DVDs, and
store large files onto recordable discs (depending on drive type).
This drive may be a CD, recordable CD, DVD, or recordable DVD drive. To identify your
drive type and for more information about your drive, see “Identifying drive types”
on page 34.
USB ports Plug a USB (Universal Serial Bus) device (such as a printer, scanner, camera, keyboard,
or mouse) into this port. For more information, see “Installing a printer, scanner, or
other peripheral device” on page 30.
Empty 5.25-inch
drive bay
Use this bay to install optional drives.
Headphone jack
8
Component Icon Description
Back
Back
Diskette drive
(optional)
Powe r
button/Power
indicator
Hard drive activity
indicator
Microphone jack Plug a microphone into this jack. This jack is color-coded red or pink.
Headphone jack Plug powered, analog front speakers, an external amplifier, or headphones into this
Power connector
Insert a standard 3.5-inch diskette into the optional diskette drive. For more
information, see “Using the diskette drive” on page 32.
Press this button to turn the power on or off. You can also configure the power button
to operate in Standby/Resume mode or Hibernate mode.
The button lights when the computer is turned on.
Lights when the hard drive is active.
jack. This jack is color-coded green.
Voltage switch
PS/2 mouse port
PS/2 keyboard port
Serial port
Video port
USB ports
Headphone jack
Microphone jack
Tel ephone jack
Case cover
thumbscrew
Parallel port
Ethernet
(network) jack
Audio in speaker jack
Modem jack
Case cover
thumbscrew
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CHAPTER 2: Getting Started
Component Icon Description
Power connector Plug the power cord into this connector.
Voltage switch Before turning on your computer, make sure that this switch is in the
correct position for the correct power available. The switch is preset at the
factory with the correct voltage for your area.
In the United States, the utility power is supplied at a nominal 115 volts
at 60 Hz. The power supply should always be set to this when your
computer is operating in the United States. In other areas of the world,
such as Europe, the utility power is supplied at 230 volts at 50 Hz. If your
computer is operating in an environment such as this, the voltage switch
should be moved to 230.
Case cover
thumbscrew
PS/2 mouse port Plug a Personal System/2
PS/2 keyboard port Plug a PS/2 mouse into this port.
Serial port Plug a serial device into this port. For more information, see “Installing a
Video port Plug a monitor into this port.
USB ports Plug USB (Universal Serial Bus) devices (such as a printer, scanner, camera,
Headphone/analog
speakers jack (green)
Microphone jack (red
or pink)
Telephone jack Plug a telephone cable into this jack.
Case cover
thumbscrew
Remove this screw before opening the case.
®
(PS/2) keyboard into this port.
printer, scanner, or other peripheral device” on page 18.
keyboard, or mouse) into these ports. For more information, see “Installing
a printer, scanner, or other peripheral device” on page18.
Plug powered speakers, an external amplifier, or headphones into this
jack.
Plug a microphone into this jack.
Remove this screw before opening the case.
10
Parallel port Plug a parallel device (such as a printer) into this port. For more
information, see “Installing a printer, scanner, or other peripheral device”
on page 18.
Ethernet (network)
jack
Audio input (Line in)
jack (blue)
Modem jack
Case cover
thumbscrew
Plug a 10/100 Ethernet network cable or a device (such as a DSL or cable
modem for a broadband Internet connection) into this jack.
For more information, see “Networking Your Computer” on page 97.
Plug an external audio input source (such as a stereo) into this jack so you
can record sound on your computer.
Plug a modem cable into this jack. For more information on modems, see
“Connecting the dial-up modem” on page 18.
Remove this screw before opening the case.
Working safely
Working safely
Top of screen is not
higher than eye level
Screen is perpendicular
to your line of sight
Hands and
arms are
parallel to the
floor
Reducing eye strain
Feet are flat on the floor
■
■
■
time. Look away from your computer occasionally, and try to focus on
distant objects.
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CHAPTER 2: Getting Started www.gateway.com
Setting up your computer desk and chair
When you are setting up your computer desk and chair, make sure that the desk
is the appropriate height and the chair helps you maintain good posture.
■ Select a flat surface for your computer desk.
■ Adjust the height of the computer desk so your hands and arms are
positioned parallel to the floor when you use the keyboard and mouse. If
the desk is not adjustable or is too tall, consider using a keyboard drawer.
■ Use an adjustable chair that is comfortable, distributes your weight evenly,
and keeps your body relaxed.
■ Position your chair so the keyboard is at or slightly below the level of your
elbow. This position lets your shoulders relax while you type.
■ Adjust the chair height, adjust the forward tilt of the seat, or use a footrest
to distribute your weight evenly on the chair and relieve pressure on the
back of your thighs.
■ Adjust the back of the chair so it supports the lower curve of your spine.
You can use a pillow or cushion to provide extra back support.
Setting up your computer and computer accessories
■ Set up the monitor so the top is no higher than eye level, the monitor
controls are within reach, and the screen is tilted to be perpendicular to
your line of sight.
■ Place your keyboard and mouse at a comfortable distance. You should be
able to reach them without stretching.
■ Set paper holders at the same height and distance as the monitor.
Sitting at your computer
■ Avoid bending, arching, or angling your wrists. Make sure that they are in
a relaxed position when you type.
■ Do not slouch forward or lean far back. Sit with your back straight so your
knees, hips, and elbows form right angles when you work.
■ Take breaks to stand and stretch your legs.
■ Avoid twisting your torso or neck.
Avoiding discomfort and injury from repetitive strain
■ Vary your activities to avoid excessive repetition.
■ Take breaks to change your position, stretch your muscles, and relieve your
eyes.
■ Find ways to break up the work day, and schedule a variety of tasks.
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Protecting from power source problems
During a power surge, the voltage level of electricity coming into your computer
can increase to far above normal levels and cause data loss or system damage.
Protect your computer and peripheral devices by connecting them to a surge
protector, which absorbs voltage surges and prevents them from reaching your
computer.
Working safely
High voltages can enter your computer
through both the power cord and the
modem connection. Protect your
computer by using a surge protector. If
you have a telephone modem, use a
surge protector that has a modem jack. If
you have a cable modem, use a surge
protector that has an antenna/cable
TV jack. During an electrical storm,
unplug both the surge protector and the
Warning
An uninterruptible power supply (UPS) supplies battery power to your computer
during a power failure. Although you cannot run your computer for an extended
period of time with a UPS, a UPS lets you run your computer long enough to
save your work and shut down your computer normally.
modem.
Checking the voltage selection
In the United States, the utility power is
supplied at a nominal 115 volts at 60 Hz.
The power supply should always be set to
this when your computer is operating in
the United States. In other areas of the
world, such as Europe, the utility power is
supplied at 230 volts at 50 Hz. If your
computer is operating in an environment
such as this, the voltage switch should be
moved to 230. If you set the voltage
selection switch incorrectly, your system
will be damaged. Make sure this switch is
set correctly for your location before
turning on your computer.
Caution
A power supply is integrated into your computer to provide power to the system
board, add-in cards, and peripheral devices. The voltage selection for your
location is typically set at the factory. Use the power selection switch on the back
of your computer to set the power supply to 115V or 230V. To verify that your
system has the correct setting for your environment, check the voltage selection
switch.
To set the voltage selection switch:
■ Use a tool such as an opened paper clip to slide the voltage selection
switch to the correct voltage position.
Vol tage
selection
switch
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CHAPTER 2: Getting Started www.gateway.com
Starting your computer
To start your computer:
1 Connect the monitor, keyboard, and mouse to your computer. See the
setup poster for setup instructions.
2 Turn on your computer.
3 If you are starting your computer for the first time, follow the on-screen
instructions to set up your computer.
Your computer has a built-in variable
speed fan. In addition, your computer
uses a powerful processor which
produces heat. Both the system fan and
processor can run at different speeds at
times to ensure correct system cooling.
You may notice an increase in the fan
noise when the fan is running at high
speed and a decrease in the fan noise
when it switches to normal speed.
Important
4 Plug in and turn on any peripheral devices, such as printers or scanners,
and see the documentation that came with the device for setup
instructions.
Waking up your computer
When you have not used your computer for several minutes or have not turned
off your computer, it may enter a power-saving mode called Standby. While in
Standby, the power indicator flashes.
For more information about changing
the power button mode, see “Ad j us t in g
power-saving settings” on page 95.
Tips & Tricks
If your computer is in Standby mode, move the mouse or press the power
button to “wake” it up.
T urning off your computer
When you turn off your computer, certain
components in the power supply and
system board remain energized. In order
to remove all electrical power from your
computer, unplug the power cord and
modem cable from the wall outlets. We
recommend disconnecting the power
cord and modem cable when your
computer will not be used for long
If for some reason you cannot use the
Turn Off Computer option in Windows to
turn off your computer, press and hold
the power button for about five seconds,
Warning
To turn off your computer:
1 Click Start, then click T urn Off Computer. The Turn Off Computer dialog
box opens.
periods.
Important
2 Click Tu r n O f f . Windows shuts down and turns off your computer.
then release it.
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www.gateway.com
Restarting your computer
If your computer does not respond to keyboard or mouse input, you may have
to close programs that are not responding. If closing unresponsive programs
does not restore your computer to normal operation, you may have to restart
(reboot) your computer.
To close unresponsive programs and restart your computer:
1 Press CTRL+ALT+DEL. The Task Mana g e r window opens.
2 Click the Applications tab, then click the program that is not responding.
3 Click End Task.
4 Click X in the top-right corner of the Windows Task Manager dialog box.
5 If your computer does not respond, turn it off, wait ten seconds, then turn
it on again.
Restarting your computer
If your computer does not turn off, press
and hold the power button for about
five seconds, then release it.
Important
Using the keyboard
Standard keyboard
As a part of the regular startup process, a program to check the disk status
runs automatically. When the checks are finished, Windows starts.
Function keys Navigation keys Indicators
Windows keys Application key Directional
keys
Numeric
keypa d
Feature Description
Function keys Press these keys to start program actions. Each program uses different function keys
for different purposes. See the program documentation to find out more about the
function key actions.
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CHAPTER 2: Getting Started www.gateway.com
Feature Description
Navigation keys Press these keys to move the cursor to the beginning of a line, to the end of a line,
up the page, down the page, to the beginning of a document, or to the end of a
document.
Using the mouse
Indicators Show if your N
corresponding key to activate the function.
Windows keys Press to open the Windows Start menu. These keys can also be used in combination
with other keys to open utilities like F (Search utility), R (Run utility), and E (Explorer
utility).
Application key Press these keys to access shortcut menus and help assistants in Windows.
Directional keys Press these keys to move the cursor up, down, right, or left.
Numeric keypad Press these keys to type numbers when the numeric keypad (N
The mouse is a device that controls the pointer movement on the computer
display. This illustration shows the standard mouse.
UM LOCK, CAPS LOCK, or SCROLL LOCK keys are activated. Press the
UM LOCK) is turned on.
Right button
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Left button
Scroll wheel
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Using the mouse
As you move the mouse, the pointer (arrow) on the display moves in the same
direction.
You can us e t h e left and right buttons on the mouse to select objects on the
display.
You can use the scroll wheel on the mouse to move through a document. This
feature is not available in all programs.
To... Do this...
Move the pointer
on the computer
display
Select an object
on the computer
display
Start a program or
open a file or
folder
Access a shortcut
menu or find more
information about
an object on the
computer display.
Move an object on
the computer
display.
click
click
(hold)
click
click
click,
click,
click
click
and drag
and drag
click
Move the mouse around on the mouse pad. If you run
out of space on your mouse pad and need to move
the pointer farther, pick up the mouse, set it down
in the middle of the mouse pad, then continue
moving the mouse.
Position the pointer over the object. Quickly press
and release the left mouse button once. This action
is called clicking.
Position the pointer over the object. Quickly press
and release the left mouse button twice. This action
is called double-clicking.
Position the pointer over the object. Quickly press
and release the right mouse button once. This action
is called right-clicking.
Position the pointer over the object. Press the left
mouse button and hold it down. Move (drag) the
object to the appropriate part of the computer
display. Release the button to drop the object where
you want it.
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For more information about how to
adjust the double-click speed, pointer
configuration, and other mouse settings,
speed, right-hand or left-hand
see “Changing the mouse settings” on
Tips & Tricks
For instructions on how to clean the mouse, see “Cleaning the mouse” on
page 131.
page 93.
Connecting the dial-up modem
If your computer has a dial-up modem installed, connect it to a standard
telephone line as follows.
To reduce the risk of fire, use only No. 26
AWG or larger telecommunications line
Warning
cord.
To connect the modem:
1 Insert one end of the modem cable into the modem jack on the back
of your computer.
2 Insert the other end of the modem cable into a telephone wall jack. The
modem will not work with digital or PBX telephone lines.
3 Start your computer, then start your communications program.
Connecting to a cable or DSL modem or to an Ethernet network
Your computer has a network jack that you can use to connect to a cable or DSL
modem or to an Ethernet network.
Your computer is equipped with a built-in
For information about setting up a wired
or wireless Ethernet network, see
“Networking Your Computer” on
Important
Ethernet port.
page 99.
To connect to an Ethernet network:
1 Insert one end of the network cable into the network jack on the back
of your computer.
2 Insert the other end of the network cable into a cable modem, DSL
modem, or Ethernet jack.
Installing a printer, scanner , or other peripheral device
Before you install a printer, scanner, or
other peripheral device, see the device
documentation and installation
Important
instructions.
Your computer may have one or more of the following ports: IEEE 1394 (also
known as Firewire
®
or i.Link®), Universal Serial Bus (USB), serial, and parallel. You
use these ports to connect peripheral devices such as printers, scanners, and
digital cameras to your computer. For more information about port locations,
see the Hardware Reference Guide.
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Installing a printer, scanner, or other peripheral device
For more information about installing
peripheral devices, click Start, then click
Type the ke ywor d installing devices in
the Search box, then click the arrow.
Help and Support
Help and Support.
IEEE 1394 and USB ports support plug-and-play and hot-swapping, which means
that your computer will usually recognize such a device whenever you plug it
into the appropriate port. When you use an IEEE 1394 or USB device for the first
time, your computer will prompt you to install any software the device needs.
After doing this, you can disconnect and reconnect the device at any time.
Parallel and serial port devices are not plug-and-play. See the device
documentation for detailed information and installation instructions.
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CHAPTER 3
Using Windows XP
• Using the Windows desktop
• Identifying window items
• Working with files and folders
• Searching for files and folders
• Working with documents
• Using Windows shortcuts
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CHAPTER 3: Using Windows XP www.gateway.com
Using the Windows desktop
After your computer starts, the first screen you see is the Windows desktop. The
desktop is like the top of a real desk. Think of the desktop as your personalized
work space where you can open programs and perform other tasks.
Your desktop may be different from this example, depending on how your
computer is set up.
Help and Support
For more information about the
Windows desktop, click Start, then click
Help and Support. Type the keyword
Windows desktop in the Search box,
then click the arrow.
Desktop
elements
The desktop contains the taskbar, the Start button, and the Recycle Bin icon.
Description
The taskbar is the bar at the bottom of the computer display containing the Start button on the
left and a clock on the right. Other buttons on the taskbar represent programs that are running.
Click a program’s button on the taskbar to open the program’s window.
The Start button provides access to programs, files, help for Windows and other programs, and
computer tools and utilities.
Click the
Start button, then open a file or program by clicking an item on the menu that opens.
The Recycle Bin is where files, folders, and programs that you discarded are stored. You must empty
the Recycle Bin to permanently delete them from your computer. For instructions on how to use
the Recycle Bin, see “Deleting files and folders” on page 27.
The Windows Security Center icon may appear on the taskbar near the clock. The icon changes
appearance to notify you when the security settings on your computer are set below the
recommended value or when updates are available. Double-click this icon to open the Windows
Security Center.
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Using the Start menu
Using the Windows desktop
You can start programs, open files, customize your system, get help, search for
files and folders, and more using the Start menu.
To use the Start menu:
1 Click the Start button on the lower left of the Windows desktop. The Start
menu opens showing you the first level of menu items.
Help and Support
For more information about the
Windows Start menu, click Start, then
click Help and Support. Type the
keyword Windows Start menu in the
Search box, then click the arrow.
Adding icons to the desktop
For more information about desktop
icons, click Start, then click Help and
Support. Type th e keyword desktop
icons in the Search box, then click the
Help and Support
arrow.
2 Click All Programs to see all programs and files in the Start menu. When
you move the mouse pointer over any menu item that has an arrow next
to it, another menu, called a submenu, opens and reveals related files,
programs, or commands.
3 Click a file or program to open it.
You may want to add an icon (shortcut) to the desktop for a program that you
use frequently.
To add icons to the desktop:
1 Click Start, then click All Programs.
2 Right-click (press the right mouse or touchpad button) the program that
you want to add to the desktop.
3 Click Send To, then click Desktop (create shortcut). A shortcut icon for
that program appears on the desktop.
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